Time-recorder.



No. 795,204. PATENTED JULY 18, 1905.

R. DEY.

TIME RECORDER.

APPLICATION mum mum. 1902.

a snz'rs-snnn'r 1.

. WITNESSES: I |NVENTOR I I (1 W m BY M W ATTORNEY No. 795,204. PATENTBD JULY 18, 1905. R. DRY.

TIME RECORDER.

APPLICATION FILED FEBA, 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

f4 f0 4 28/ j, 28 '26 4 1/ 28 33 O I 3 L O o l A 55 fife w //O- Ifls 3 O O 0 O R? INVENTOR No. 795,204. PATENTED JULY 18, 1905.

' R. DEY.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR 79 M Wm) ATTORNEY NITED STATES Patented July 18, 1905.

ROBERT DEY, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

TIME-RECORDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 795,204, dated July 1 8, 1905.

Application filed February 4, 1902. Sen'al No. 92,587.

To (tZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT DEY, residing at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Time-Recorders, of which the following is a full, clear, and eX- act description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to workmens timerecorders, and has for its object to provide a time-recorder in which the relative position of the record-sheet and printing mechanism is automatically shifted at predetermined times. This object is accomplished by connecting the printing mechanism with the clock in such a way that the clock automatically shifts the mechanism at desired intervals to be ready for the next impression by the workman.

In timerecorders known in the art the shifting of the printing mechanism along the face of the record-drum or other recording device where such shifting has been provided for at all has been governed by a manually-controlled device. l/Vith such constructions confusion often occurs from neglect of the person Whose duty it is to shift the printing mechanism. Moreover, with such manuallycontrolledmechanism it is possible for a workman to cause confusion in his record by making a wrong shift when recording his time. Importance of accuracy, in order not to confuse the record and to keep each workmans record in alinement with his number on the record-sheet and transverse of the recordsheet, will be readily perceived.

The invention will be understood from the following description,taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a specific embodiment thereof, and in which-- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the interior mechanism of a time-recorder, showing the inclosing case therefor in section and with certain parts broken away. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View at right angles to the View shown in Fig. 1 on line w w of said figure looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of the mechanism for controlling theshifting of the printing mechanism. Fig. 4: is a detail view, partly in top plan and partly in section, showing the flanged ing mechanism for shifting the same and a spring-pressed shaft for actuating the driving-pulley. Fig. 6 is a face view of an indicator used in connection with the shaft which carries the flanged pulley. shown in Fig. 4:. Fig. 7 is a face View of an indicating-dial located on the front of the case, the pointer of which follows the movements of the printing mechanism as it is automatically shifted.

Similar reference characters refer to corresponding partsin all the figures.

The novel feature of this invention consists in the means for regulating the shifting of the printing mechanism parallel to the record sheet or drum, and such means may be combined with various types of recorders. It is immaterial whether the impression member or form member of the printing-couple is moved in printing. It is likewise immaterial whether the record is carried by a drum or by a flat surface so long as means are provided whereby the line allotted to any particular workman may be brought into position with relation to the printing-wheels.

In the drawings, A represents the inclosing case of the recording apparatus, in the upper front portion of which is located the clock mechanism B, which may be of any suitable type, here shown as the well-known Seth Thomas clock, the pendulum C of which is pivoted at any desired point within the casing. The minute-hand spindle l is utilized for actuating the type-wheel 2, which prints the minutes of the hours during which the recordings are made, the hours being printed by a smaller wheel 3, which receives motion from the minute-wheel 2. Connection between these two wheels may be made in any desired way. A ribbon 5 is provided with ribbonrolls 6, which may be automatically actuated,- if desired, by suitable connection with the printing mechanism. A notched detent-wheel 7 is secured to minute-wheel 2, and a detent 8,

carried by an upright bar 9, is supported from 100 the frame of the printing mechanism by a spring 10, so that it is normally free of the notched wheel, but thrown into contact with it just prior to the printing movement. The printing mechanism is carried by a frame consistingof two side pieces 11 and 12 and a connecting cross-piece .13. Spindle 14, which carries the minute-wheel, is a tube with a square bore supported at its ends in the side pieces 11 and 12. A square or angular rod 15, fitting loosely through this spindle, is connected with the minute-spindle of the clock by a spring 16 in order to allow proper movement of the printing mechanism relative to the connected clock mechanism. The printing mechanism slides on the square rod15, but is rotated thereby at all times, so that the printing mechanism may be shifted to and from the clock mechanism, while at the same time operative connection between the clock minute-spindle and the minute-spindle of the type-wheel is secured. The spring 16 provides for rotary elasticity between these parts. Near the rear and front of the casing are located uprights 17 and 18, respectively, provided with various arms and brackets in order to provide bearings for the different bars and shafts of the machine, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Arms 19 19 provide end supports for the braces 20, which project through the .front of the casing and have fastened thereto the large ring 21, provided with holes 22, each of which is allotted to an individual workman, as in the usual construction. The record-drum, as shown at 23, is an elongated drum having the record-sheet wound thereon, said record-sheet being suitably numbered to correspond to the number of holes in the outer ring 21 and the number of individual workmen. Shaft 24, which carries the record-drum, is journaled at one end in the rear upright 17 and at the other end in the casing. The frame for the printing mechanism is guided and steadied in its shifting movement at its lower end upon a smooth rod or bar 25, which passes through an elongated slot in a right-angled extension of the side piece 12.

The printing-frame is guided at its upper end by a smooth rod 26, supported at one end by the casing and at the other by the upright 17. Slidably mounted on this rod is a long tube 27, which serves as a guide for the members 11 and 12 of the printing mechanism, connected therewith so as to permit of the vertical movement of the printing-wheels, which is necessary in the printing operation. As shown in the drawings, the upper ends of the frame members 11 and 12 are bifurcated to partially surround the tube 27, and these bifurcated extensions may rest in annular grooves in said tube 27, as shown in Fig. 5 in connection with member 12, so that the printing-wheels may move vertically with respect thereto, but so that they will be carried with the tube in the shifting movement without unnecessary friction. The printing mechanism is normally held elevated by means of springs 28, connected to pins 28, projecting from tube 27 and having their other ends connected to pins or screws on the cross-piece 13, thereby normally holding the bifurcated members of side pieces 11 and 12 up to the tube 27 until the mechanism is depressed by means hereinafter described.

Connected to the outer end of drum-shaft 24: are two radially-extending arms 30, at the end of one of which is pivoted a lever 31, which passes through a clip 32 at the end of the other arm and is provided with a pin 31 at its free end, adapted to enter one of the holes 32 to secure proper alinement of the record-drum, which is rotated by means of said lever 31 and the described connection. The frame 33, (shown in Fig. 2,) which may be called a universal-bar frame, is pivotally mounted on a rod 3 1, which is supported in the uprights 17 and 18, and the inner bar 35 of this universal-bar frame passes into notches in the members 11 and 12 of the printing mechanism, so that when this universal bar is rocked downwardly the printing-wheels will be carried therewith against the tension of springs 28. Arms 36 project from the rear of the universal-bar frame and spring 37 between said arms, and a fixed point on the uprights tends to hold said universal bar normally in its upper position. Turning now to the means for actuating the universal bar to depress the printing-wheels, shaft 2st is hollow at its end, and a plunger 39 is located therein which abuts against the lever This plunger is connected by a pin working in a slot in the hollow shaft '21, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, to a sleeve 40, loosely mounted on shaft 2 1. The rear end of sleeve 10 bears against the lower arm of the lever 41, pivoted in brackets 42, projecting from the upright 18, and the upper end of this lever 11 contacts with the lower arm of bell-crank lever 41:3, pivoted at 1 1 in a suitable bracket, the upper curved arm 45 of which bears upon the upper side of the universal bar 35. 'When it is desired to record the time of any particular workman, either upon entering or leaving the establishment, the lever 31 isrotated, carrying with it the recorddrum, until the pin 31 is brought opposite the Workmans number, at which point the corresponding longitudinal line upon the record-drum will be underneath the printing mechanism. Then upon throwing the lever 31 in it will carry with it the plunger 39 and sleeve 40, thereby throwing the lever 11 and bell-crank lever 15, and the universal bar will be depressed, carrying the wheels therewith. Further description or illustration of the parts thus far set forth is not deemed necessary.

The means by which the clock automatically shifts the printing mechanism at any desired time to be ready for the next impression will now be described.

To a pin A6, projecting from the frame member 12, are connected two ends of what constitute substantially an endless band, of which one member 47 passes under and over an idler 48, supported in a bracket 4E9, which is preferably resiliently mounted on the end of spring 49, connected to the upper end of upright 17 From this idler the band passes over an actuating-pulley 50, which is provided with two grooves, in one of which the end of section 47 of the band is fastened. In the other groove is fastened one end of the other section 51 of the band, which passes underneath the actuating-pulley and is connected at its other end to pin 46. Actuating-pulley 50 is carried with a springpressed shaft 52, extending transversely to the frame and supported at its end in suitable brackets projecting'from upright 18. A coiled spring 53, suitably housed at one end of this shaft, provides the impelling force therefor. At its other end shaft 52 carries a small bevel-wheel 54:, which meshes with the bevel-wheel 54 on vertical shaft 55, supported by suitable bearings at its ends. From this construction it will be seen that if the printing mechanism is drawn to the rear end of the record-drum it will be under a constant tension through spring-controlled shaft 52 and the endless band passing over the pulley thereon tending to move it along the face of the drum.

The clock-actuated escapement mechanism, which governs the time at which each shift of the printing mechanism takes place and the distance through which it is moved at each shift, is constructed as follows: In place of the usual seconds-wheel of the clock having seventy-six teeth a wheel with seventy-two teeth is provided. Large wheel 56 of the clock is geared with a wheel numbered 57, and having fortyteeth, on a short shaft 58 at right angles to the shaft 55. Carried by shaft 58 is a pulley or wheel which consists of a hub 59, having two flanges 6O 60, which are notched, as indicated in full and dotted lines in Fig. 3, the position of the notches depending upon the particular adjustment which it is desired to give the mechanism. This pulley is carried by a long sleeve 61, loosely mounted on the shaft 58 andconnected at its end by a pin-and-slot connection to a short sleeeve 62, splined to the short shaft 58. Thus the pulley revolves on the short shaft 58 once in twenty-four hours, owing to its described connection with the clock. Beyond the sleeve 62 said shaft 58 is threaded and a lock-nut 63 provided thereon. Connected to the sleeve 62 is a pointer or index 64, which travels over the face of the twentyfour-hour indicator 65, supported on the end of a pin 66, projecting from the framework. A crown-wheel 67 is provided on the shaft in connection with the flanged pulley, so that the lowest part of the flanged pulley runs between the teeth of the wheel. This crownwheel is connected to its shaft 55, so that it will rotate therewith, while it may be reciprocated thereon by means of a pin 68, which is carried by a collar 69, fast on the shaft 58. A spring 70 between the lower face of the crown-wheel 67 and collar 69 holds the crownwheel normally in such position that one of -its,teeth is caught either by the first flange of the pulley or by the second to prevent revolution of the crown-wheel and the shaft 55 except at predetermined points in the revolution of the pulley, which may be determined by the positions of the notches in its flanges. At the lower end of vertical shaft 55 a bevel-gear 71 meshes with a bevel-gear 7 2 on a short shaft 7 3 at right angles thereto. At the other end of said shaft is a bevel-gear 74, meshing with gear 75 on the spindle 76 of the pointer 77, which travels over the face of the dial 78. From the described connection it will be seen that the pointer 77 will follow the movement of the printing mechanism across the face of the record-drum, and the dial 78 is suitably marked off for this purpose into six periods for each of the seven days of the week in conformity with the seven-day division of the record-drum and six successive movements of the escapement mechanism, which are allowed by the present position of the notches in the flanged pulley.

The general operation will now be apparent. The forty-tooth wheel meshing with the seventy-two-tooth wheel of the clock will make one complete revolution in each twentyfour hours, and the flanged pulley likewise.

The notches in the flanged pulley are set to correspond wlth the shiftlng movement of the pr1nt1ng mechanism in each twenty-four hours, providing for a record of time of the u v L workmen to allow for Morning 1n, Mornmg out, Afternoon in, Afternoon out, Night 1n, Night out. hen the flanged pulley has reached such a point in its revolu tion that a notch thereon comes opposite one of the teeth of the crown-wheel, this tooth will pass therethrough, allowing the crownwheel to revolve until the same tooth strikes against the second flange. The notches in the respective flanges should be staggered so' that a tooth of the crown-wheel passing through the first flange will be held while a notch of the second flange is brought opposite the same tooth, whereupon that tooth will clear the flanged pulley and a second tooth of -the crown-wheel will be pressed against the first flange. As the crown-wheel is allowed to revolve it releases the springpressed shaft 52, which is constantly under tension and which is geared to the shaft of the crown-wheel, as described. Thus as the flanged pulley revolves the driving-spring presses a tooth of the crown-wheel against one or the other of the flanges of the pulley, so that one tooth after another escapes through the slots and the traveling mechanism shifts as and for the distance desired, according to the distance between the teeth and the positions of the slots. By suitable arrangement of slots the teeth can be allowed to escape at any time desired and by a suitablearrangement of teeth can be determined the distances the toothed wheel may travel at any shift.

By the described connection between the shaft 58 and the sleeve loosely mounted thereon the flanged pulley may be released so as to be adjusted in any desired way. The pointer and twenty-four-hour indicator are arranged to indicate the time by the twenty-four-liour wheel and consequent motion of the flanged pulley.

It will be understood that in the present construction the printing mechanism is set at the rear end of the drum and gradually moved forward by the spring-impelled shaft as it is released by its escapement mechanism. When it is desired to reset the printing mechanism, the crown-wheel 67 may be pushed down against the force of spring 70 to loosen it from the flanged pulley, whereupon the printing mechanism may be moved as desired, inasmuch as the shaft 52 is free to rotate. The hub of the crown-wheel may be provided with a projecting flange 67 for convenience in forcing it away from the flanged pulley. The operation of the column-indicator 78 on the outside of the case will be suflicicntly clear from the description already given.

An actuating-pulley having a single groove could be provided with an endless band passing over said pulley and the idler-pulley and connected at any point in its length with the printing mechanism or the sliding tube. To prevent slipping, a sprocket-and-chain device may be used instead of said band and pulley. This object is accomplished fully as well, however, by the construction of the actuatingpulley having two grooves and a band made up in sections, so that as one section of the band is wound up the other is unwound, thereby providing a counterbalancing pressure upon the printing mechanism at all times.

If only a small number of printing-columns are required, the pulleys may be replaced by an arm and cranl that is, the spindle of the first pulley will be formed into a crank and an arm put on this crank with the other end of it attached to the traveling mechanism by a stud. The toothed wheel and flanged pulley must of course be adapted to suit this construction; but the principle remains.

It will be obvious that a construction in which the record-d rum is shifted automatically with relation to the printing mechanism instead of having the printing mechanism shifted over the face of the drum could be substituted by mere mechanical skill for the construction shown and such construction would come within the limits of the invention here disclosed.

Such parts as are not herein more specifically described are of usual and well-known construction, and it will be understood that these and other features of construction may be Varied within wide limits while still preserving the spirit of this invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a time-recorder, the combination with means adapted to carry a record-sheet, the printing mechanism and the clock for controlling the rotation of the printing-wheels of said printing mechanism, of means for shifting said printing mechanism transversely of said record-sheet intermittently, a twentyfour-hour wheel geared to said clock and an escapement controlled by said wheel by which said shifting means is governed.

2. In a time-recorder, the combination with the clock, means adapted to carry the recordsheet and the shiftable printing mechanism, of a flanged pulley having suitable notches in its flanges and constantly driven from said clock, a toothed wheel having its teeth adapted to contact one by one with said flanges until released through said notches, a spring pressed mechanism for shifting said printing mechanism, and gearing between said spring pressed mechanism and said toothed wheel.

3. In a time-recorder, the combination with means adapted to carry the record-sheet, the printing mechanism and the clock controlling the revolution of the printing-wheels of said printing mechanism, of a guide upon which said printing mechanism is reciprocable, a spring-pressed shaft, a connection between said shaft and said printing mechanism whereby said printing mechanism is shifted by the rotation of said shaft, an escapement mechanism controlling the rotation of said shaft, and a connection between said clock and said escapement mechanism whereby the release of said escapement is governed from said clock.

a. In atime-recorder, the combination with means adapted to carry the record-sheet, the printing mechanism and the clock controlling the revolution of the printing-wheels of said printing mechanism, the means :for rotating said drum and for throwing said printing mechanism into operative relations thereto, of a guide upon which said printing mechanism is reciprocable, parallel to the axis of said drum, a spring-pressed shaft, a connection between said shaft and said printing mechanism whereby said printing mechanism is shifted by the rotation of said shaft, an escapement mechanism, controlling the rotation of said shaft, and a connection between said clock and said escapement mechanism whereby the release of said escapement is governed from said clock.

5. In a time-recorder,incombination, means adapted to carry the record-sheet, the printing mechanism, the means for rotating said drum and for actuating said mechanism, the clock operatively connected to said printing mechanism, a flanged pulley geared to rotate in a certain definite relation with said clock, the crown-wheel 67 controlled by said flanged pulley, the spring-pressed shaft 52, connections between said shaft and printing mechanism whereby said printing mechanism is shifted by the rotation of said shaft, and gearing between said shaft and wheel 67, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In a time-recorder, means adapted to carry a record-sheet, a printing mechanism shiftable over the face of said sheet, a clock operatively connected to control the printing- Wheels of said printing mechanism, a twentyfour-hour wheel geared to said clock, a springpressed mechanism for shifting said printing mechanism, and an escapement controlling said spring-pressed mechanism, the releasing member of said escapement being actuated from said twenty-four hour wheel.

7. In a time-recorder, means adapted to carry a record-sheet, a printing mechanism shiftable over the face of said sheet, a clock operatively connected to control the printingwheels of said printing mechanism, a twentyfour-hour wheel geared to said clock, a springpressed mechanism for shifting said printing mechanism, and an escapement controlling said spring-pressed mechanism, the releasing member of said escapement being actuated from said twenty-four-hour wheel, and a twenty-four-hour dial having a pointer traversing said dial and moving with said twentyfour-hour wheel.

8. In a time-recorder, in combination with the clock and the printing mechanism, the wheel 56, the wheel 57 gearing therewith, and the escapement mechanism in connection with said printing mechanism and controlled by the rotation of said wheel 57.

9. In combination with the printing mechanism of a time-recorder, a guide upon which said printing mechanism is shiftable, means for shifting said printing mechanism comprising the spring-pressed shaft 52, the pulley thereon, and an endless band comprising two sections, each connected to the printing mechanism and to the pulley 50 in separate grooves thereon, and an idler-pulley &8 over which one of said band-sections passes, whereby pulley 50 is adapted to control the ment of the printing mechanism in either di rection, and an escapement mechanism for releasing said spring-pressed shaft.

11. In combination with the printing mechanism of a time-recorder, a guide upon which said printing mechanism is shiftable, means for shifting said printing mechanism comprising the spring-pressed shaft 52, the pulley 5O thereon, and an endless band comprising two sections, each connected to the printing mechanism and to the pulley 50 in separate grooves thereon, an idler-pulley 48 over which one of said band-sections passes, whereby pulley 50 is adapted to control the move ment of the printing mechanism in either direction, and the escapement mechanism actuated by the clock of the recorder for releasing said spring-pressed shaft.

12. In a time-recorder, in combination the shiftable printing mechanism spring-impelled in one direction, the escapement releasing said printing mechanism for such movement, said escapement including a flanged pulley and a toothed wheel yieldinglysupported in operative relation to said flanged pulley.

13. In atime-recorder, in combination,with the shiftable spring-impelled printing mechanism, the clock and the detaining-wheel connected to said printing mechanism, the shaft 58 driven in definite relation with said clock, the flanged pulley carried by a sleeve 61 loose on said shaft, the sleeve 62 splined to said shaft and having a pin-and-slot connection with said sleeve 61, the lock-nut 63 for looking said sleeves together, whereby the detaining-wheel is released by the rotation of said flanged pulley and said pulley may be disconnected from said shaft, substantially as described.

In testimony whereby I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' ROBERT DEY.

Witnesses:

CHARLES E. MACDONALD, JOHN F. HAYDEN. 

